The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-03-04
Notes from North Ia oolot.
MERCER. February %.

MEHcEs, February %, 1887.
Mr.. EorroR:-The bouutiful s"pply Of rain
that has fallen for the past few days, has
thrown farmers considerably behind in sowing
oats, but the sun has shone out again, aud 1
think the prospect good tor O fair spell of
weather for n time, aud the way people talk, l
think they will make good use of It.
Farmers are picking up moro zeal this Spring
than ever before. They are talking about di-
| versifed crops, and have generally come TO the
| conclusion that the all-coton system of farm
! ing will not do. hope that the day is not
lar dist ant when our smoke houses will DO
move d from the meat packing cities, and our
cor cribs from the West. We should have
thom Mt home. Every farmer should try to
| raiso enough corn for homo use. AMI this caa
be done on any ordinary farm besi des sowing
wheat and oats bOun tifully, and planting peas,
then surplus of Cotton can be raised sufficient
to meet the ordinary money demands.
| For the past few years vc have had O drou,h
just in time to cut the cotton off from fruitiug
| Wheat and oats come in before the droutb, and
early corn is generally made. And that happy
farmer that harvests so large n crop of wheat
and oats, and has nice fields of corn, can GER
tsnly enjoy the revival meetings in August,
when the all-cotton farmer stands gazing on
the heavens wishing for n shower to refresh
his parched cotton leaves. Just imagine his
condition, nothing but an uncertain cotton
crop to pay for his guano, large bill Of sup
plies and his taxes. No wonder preachers
60 without their salaries, and doctors refuse to
wait on somo poor people without tho endorse
ment Of moneycd man, and so many people
are behind in paying the Editor for their
county paper.
Now, if every farmer would go TO work aud
try to remedy these mistaken notions of farm
life in himself, it would not be a great while
until we would have q South Carolina boom,
like those of Alabama, and places whcro diver
sifed crops are grown, So far rs our county is
concern ed, we have lands fertile enough to
grow anything we need. And if our farmers
give their business proper attention, VIC will
be prosperous people in the near future.
1.-Two get the extension of the new projected
railroad from Union to Blacks, it will likely
run through the center of the County, crossing
Broad River near the old rolling mills, where
thcre is, without doubt, the finest water power
in tho State. This would induce large cotton
mills to be erected on those water powers and
add Union county to III. list of prosperous
manufacturing localities Of tho South. There
arc also mineral ore, such ., gold and iron,
that will some day add immensely to the wealth
Of our county.
The Flint Hill gold mine hos been recently
examined by Now York expert, who pro-
nounced it to be worth about $4,000. An
English company will soon commence to work
the minc And it is thought that other good
mines can be found in our neighborhood,
together with other minerals. With the ad-
vantage of q railroad and cotton Mills, l think
our section would be the richest in the State.
The wealth Of q country does not depend
altogether on its agricultural advantages, but
combine it with other inducements for capi-
tai from abroad, any country can become rich
What wo need at present is good farm labor
and capital to improve our farms. know of o
great deal Of fine cul,ivatng land that will 10y
out this year, on account ofthc scarcity oflabor.
There has been great exodus of laboring peo.
pie from this section to the West, and hear of
many who have found the change to be not
what they expected, and are wanting to get
back to their native Carolina, but for the lack
of money they can't get back. If some of their
good friends would help them back 10 their
old homes, where they can have good health
and get money for their work, it would be o
grand thing for them.
Capt. w. III. Mercer has returned homo fro n
Birmingham, Ala. lie is interested in the
Birmingham Agricultural Works, where he
will have several Of his ingenious Patented in
ventions manufactured and placed on the mar
| ket.
The new churn power that our Mr.. C. c.
Davis has invented, is claimed to bo the best
among the patent churns on the market
L. p. Macomson, Esq., has resigned his COM
mission as Trial Justice. He was man that
suited tho office-more for peace than law.
Mr.. c. L. N. Legg has been appointed his
successor. think Capt. Legg suitable man
for the place, and will fill the Office according
to law and Justice. FARMER
OBITUARY.